News
A cry for help from across the seas
- Messages from anguished, hungry migrant workers with no jobs, no money, no food and no way home
- SLBFE says measures to be taken to assist any foreign worker that need support, regardless of legal status
“Dear Sir,” the email read. “I am not well. I am so depressed because I haven’t had a proper meal for a few weeks now. I am not a person to beg like this. I don’t have a way to bring money to this country from Sri Lanka. I will ask my wife to deposit some money in your account so you can send some provisions to me. We can’t go outside because of the virus and the curfew. Please do something. Please send some help.”
This desperate plea was made this week by an employee in Saudi Arabia to a Sri Lankan who has a curfew pass. This is only one of many, many similar messages from anguished, hungry workers there with no jobs, no money, no food and no way home.
Worse off are the “undocumented” workers in Saudi Arabia and in other countries of West Asia. In Kuwait, the problem is significantly bigger.
Saudi Arabia alone has nearly 150,000 Sri Lankan migrant workers. Around 60,000 or 40 percent fit the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment’s (SLBFE) definition—coined in 2017—of “illegal”. That is, they are either unregistered or their two-year registration has lapsed. To the Bureau, they were as good as non-existent.
Up to this week, going strictly by instructions, the SLBFE checked registration before assisting the needy. Those without current documents were turned away. The Bureau is yet to make allocations for the welfare of people affected with COVID-19, either registered or those whose paperwork has lapsed.
Communications issued in 2017 by the SLBFE make its position clear. A press statement released that year says a considerable number of workers were found to be overstaying their visas or have deserted their places workplaces in violation of the law. The Government takes no responsibility for them, it said.
But the status quo will change, promised Kamal Ratwatte, SLBFE Chairman, this week. The Board has decided in conjunction with Labour and Foreign Relations Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to assist any foreign worker that need support, regardless of legal status.
The circular issued by a former Chairman to SLBFE officers abroad instructing that the Workers’ Welfare Fund was only for the benefit of registered members is temporarily amended to suit today’s extraordinary circumstances, Mr Ratwatte said.
“I don’t call them illegal,” he maintained. “I call them ‘registered’ and ‘unregistered’. And whoever comes to missions asking for help must be assisted, even if they want accommodation in safe houses.”
The SLBFE Board held an emergency meeting in Colombo on Friday to decide how much of its funds to channel to the 16 Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad in which it has representation. Once available, the monies will be used to buy ration packs.
“If some people have fever or colds, etcetera, check-ups by medical officers or transfers to hospitals will be facilitated,” Mr Ratwatte said. “Or if anyone wants medication for heart or other conditions, like diabetes, and has not received his or her ages, they will also be helped.”
The Chairman admitted there had been a delay in implementing these measures owing to discussions till last week on whether workers could be repatriated. The President ruled this out as Sri Lanka did not have sufficient facilities to quarantine such large numbers.
| Some countries grant amnesties to migrant workers Kuwait, Syria and Lebanon, which together have large numbers of Sri Lankan workers, have granted amnesties for migrants who have overstayed their visas or are otherwise undocumented. Kuwait said workers will be allowed to leave without penalty as well as allowed re-entry. Some migrants were also allowed to regularise their stay by paying a fine. Sri Lanka’s Mission in Lebanon in discussions with Immigration authorities negotiated a conditional amnesty for Sri Lankans. Male workers must pay a one-year penalty of Lebanese pounds 400,000 (around Rs 50,000) and female workers LBP 300,000 (around Rs 38,000). The Honorary Consulate of Sri Lanka in Syria separately negotiated a general amnesty. Written submissions are coming from Sri Lankans seeking repatriation. The Embassy in Lebanon has asked workers to use the opportunity, saying travel arrangements will be made once exit permits are granted and airports are open. Migrant Rights, an advocacy group says however that, while amnesties are a step in the right direction, they should be expanded to allow all irregular migrants to regularise their status without cost. Travel during this health crisis is not advisable. “Testing for COVID-19 should be provided to migrants in vulnerable situations, and to all migrants returning home,” it pointed out. “Countries of origin will likely be unwilling to accept deportees without stringent testing. Countries like India, from where most of Kuwait’s migrants hail, are under complete lockdown and may not be able to receive returnees at all.”
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